32Chapter 9: Intentions
It felt like walking on thin ice. And it frustrated Gabriel so much that he had a sudden urge to throw a vase against the wall.
They had just come back from Stonewall, after having suffered through a dinner from hell with his father. Augustus Sterling's meeting with the consul of some country with natural gas-rich deposits had been cancelled. He had insisted that Anne should join them at the dining table and had asked a lot of questions about her personal life. Gabriel thanked his lucky stars that the only thing out of the ordinary about Anne was her unnaturally almost permanent cheerful disposition, her IQ of 180, and her eccentric fashion sense. Everything else about her life was a bore.
Or well, at least it was supposed to be a bore for other normal people.
Not with the Morgans, though. Gabriel could hardly keep down the pot roast he had angrily shoveled in his mouth while Anne was being interrogated. His father was gentle, though. Conversational. Thank God Georgiana was not there during dinner.
The sound of the breaking porcelain echoed throughout the house. After that was, again, the deafening silence.
Gabriel didn't mean to lash out at Anne after that confrontation with Georgiana Sterling.
I just wanted her to fucking tame her tongue. Learn her place.
It was the absolute worst that they had briefly encountered his stepmother. Or rather, the legal first wife of his father, since she really can't be considered his mother. Georgiana loathed him and his late mother. Justified, of course, as they were proof of her husband's infidelity.
But she had no right to treat us that way.
Gabriel clenched his fists as memories of a harsh childhood rushed back to bite him in the ass. He and his mother had endured a long list of every sort of harassment courtesy of Georgiana. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, but Georgiana was not just any woman. And Gabriel and his mother indeed tasted a worse brand of hell.
All those times that they were kicked out from numerous shelters, denied food, assistance, and jobs, his mother taught him not to hate.
We deserve this. I'm so sorry, my love.
Gabriel shut his eyes at the painful memory of his mother's voice.
It had been the first time that he stood up to Georgiana. However, it was undeniable that her stare, her tone of voice, every smile, every blink, every crease on her beautiful face reminded him of how low he really was. Every single action and non-action during that brief encounter was a stab in his gut. And he hated it that Anne was there to witness everything.
She would use Anne. I just know she would. She couldn't let anything pass so peacefully. She will never leave me alone. I will never be free. I will never have peace.
He snapped out of the rage-filled haze and realized that there was a brushing sound behind him, as well as the soft tinkle of porcelain sliding across the marble floor. He turned and found Anne already cleaning up the mess he made with the vase.
She heard him turn to face her, and thus stopped. She didn't look up at him, however, perhaps in obeisance of his command about an hour ago at Stonewall. Her bangs covered her eyes, but he could see that the permanent smile on her face was absent. No sadness. No pouting. No clenching of jaw or gritting of teeth. Something cold shot up Gabriel's spine, making him, again, agitated and angry for some reason.
She was actually waiting for a command, if there was one.
Gabriel held back a sigh. He reined in the feelings of frustration and probably guilt, and stalked off to his room.
Anne then resumed cleaning up the broken vase.
Gabriel woke up with the harsh sunlight burning his eyes even if they were shut tight. Burning browns and reds danced in his vision, making him groan. It felt like jackhammers were drilling both his temples. High frequency sound kept ringing in his ears.
He threw the covers off himself and sluggishly sat up, growling incoherent swearwords.
He felt something weigh down his bed right beside him.
"Leave me alone," he growled loudly. The weight beside him did not disappear but he heard the soft sound of footsteps on carpet. She was walking away. A few seconds later, the door shut close.
He suddenly felt cold and blindly grasped for his blanket. Instead, his hands brushed against wood. He slowly opened his eyes, wincing against the pain brought on by sunlight.
Anne had brought him his breakfast. Toast. Butter. Marmalade. Banana. Cold milk. Water. Aspirin.
And probably to tell him to get his ass moving, his digital clock was also served. 8:59 a.m.
He smirked.
Anne looked down at her phone for the zillionth time time that morning. She followed that up with another frustrated sigh.
Gabriel had not left his room. Clearly, he had no plans to get to school.
Duh. It's already 10:30.
Still in her school uniform, she again mentally ticked off the house chores she had already accomplished.
Laundry.
Dusting paintings, knick knacks, table tops.
Mopping floors.
Cleaning the kitchen.
There were others in her to-do list but she was already tired. And terribly bored.
For the zillionth time, she looked towards the direction of Gabriel's room. This time, not with frustration and annoyance but with worry.
No sign of activity.
He was probably awake and still moping about yesterday. Anne rolled her eyes. The Morgans were as dysfunctional as they come. Horribly so since money was involved.
Boohoo. Your life is so awful because you're a bastard and your father's wife hates you.
She gritted her teeth and quelched the growing anger. She had lost count of the times she had to do that today.
Without warning, her phone vibrated, making her yelp and drop the mop in her other hand.
She instinctively looked again at Gabriel's door as she bent down to pick up the mop. Thankfully, the loud crash against the marble floor didn't stir the young master.
She frowned at the screen of her phone.
I don't know this number.
"Hello?"
"Oh good. You're still alive." Anne's lips parted slightly at the cool voice. The boy on the other end of the line sighed.
"I thought that crazy bastard did you in or something."
"How did you get my number?"
Maximillian Albright chortled. "Wow. You already know my voice." He cleared his throat. She could see his easy smirk in her mind's eye. "You're a scholar of the Albright foundation. I know everything about you, Anne Mitchell Meyers.
A corner of her lips turned up in a smirk of her own. No, you don't.
"Is there a reason why you're calling this number?" She had the cutesy, puzzled voice down pat.
"I just wondered why you're not in school. Don't forget that you have a limit on the number of legit absences. Or else we'll cut you off."
Cue eye roll. "I'm sick. I have a fever."
She's bored, but... not bored enough to play with the likes of him. She knows what he wants, and she's not naive enough to deny that Maximillian Albright knew how to get whatever he wants at any cost. Playing with a boy like him will be nothing short of dangerous.
But she's not stupid enough to be rude and hang up. Still, her fingers itched to end the conversation. Another extra dose of ice-cold shivers ran up and down her spine, giving her goosebumps underneath her uniform, as she remembered how those deep blue eyes seemed to suck her in. Something about that boy could send her mind into a tailspin. Damn hormones.
"Hold on. What? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Maximillian-"
"Max."
"Max," she repeated after him.
A short pause.
"It's that bastard, Gabriel, huh? He's overworking you, isn't he?"
"No! I..."
"The scholarship monthly allowance should be able to cover for you basic needs. You don't need shit like work. And to work for that bastard..." He let out a disgusted sigh.
"I need the money."
"I could give it to you. No strings attached."
Anne rolled her eyes again and suppressed a snort.
"Anne."
"It's nothing to worry about. Honestly."
"Anne. You need to stop working there."
Anne pushed for a little giggle. "It doesn't even feel like I'm working here, actually. And Gabriel even took time off from school so I won't feel pressured to get up and work. We're friends, Max. It's okay. Thanks for checking up on me."
"A friend would never push you into a pit full of vipers. Which is kind of an understatement compared to what he did to you just a couple of days ago. Remember that, Anne?"
She frowned.
"Remember when they threw garbage and filthy water at you and beat you up? You do know that he's the reason behind it. He let you be attacked by the whole school."
Interestingly, Anne didn't remember that. Her mind reeled back to that scene where Gabriel pinned against the lockers and viciously ravaged her lips. She wrinkled her nose upon realizing that something warm was starting deep in her belly.
She was quiet for a while, unable to reply. Suddenly, her phone was snatched out of her hand. She mentally cursed before whirling around.
"Who is this?" Gabriel's eyes looked ready to kill. Anne blinked and let her eyes wander a little bit to the side upon seeing Gabriel in a long, black, silk robe loosely tied around his wait. His chest muscles and a bit of his chiseled six-pack peeked out of the robe.
His frown deepened, making Anne's heart skip a beat. This could be trouble.
"Gabriel," she whispered. "Please."
Gabriel looked down at her with cold eyes. He cocked his head after a second and a slow smirk started to spread on his face.
"I will do whatever the fuck I want to do with her, Albright. You don't own her. I do." His harsh, husky voice scarily strong even without yelling. He was mocking Max.
Max must've said something more, making Gabriel pause then chuckle. "Well. We'll see. Let's talk tomorrow. I believe Anne's already prepped up and ready for me. Don' want to waste everything by talking to you."
Anne gritted her teeth at the heavy sexual innuendo.
Gabriel pressed the end call button and tossed it back to Anne. She sighed with relief. A part of her expected him to throw it against the wall.
"What are you gonna talk about?" she couldn't help asking.
Gabriel grabbed one of the cream puffs she had prepared earlier and examined it curiously. "Tomorrow," he simply said before popping the food in his mouth. He smirked again and walked off.
Anne frowned as she stepped out of the car to greet the frigid, 7 a.m. air. It's not as if going to school early would offset our absence yesterday.
She tried to plaster a smile on before Gabriel turned to her.
Gabriel lit a cigarette before leaning against his car.
The smooth hum of a speeding car jolted Anne, and she quickly snatched Gabriel's cigarette. She stomped on the cigarette before kicking it under the car.
Gabriel clucked his tongue and got another stick out. "Relax, Anne.."
"No." Anne grabbed both of Gabriel's wrists. Gabriel froze and stared at her. Anne took advantage of his frozen state and grabbed his lighter and pack of cigarettes. Just as she threw the abominable things inside the car. Tires squealed right next to them.
Anne stared at the red Ferrari, immediately knowing who was going to come out of it.
"You brought her," Max said with more than a frown.
Gabriel smirked and shrugged. He stood straight and walked towards the main building.
Anne wanted to ask what the hell was going on, but it seemed that Gabriel was loving the secrecy and Max as looking too pissed that she was there.
They followed Gabriel to the nearest room.
"Alright, Max. Since this is your big idea, how about you start the ball rolling," Gabriel smugly said.
It was clear that Anne was not supposed to be at this meeting. Max had been caught off guard.
Max closed his eyes, raised his hands and shrugged in defeat. "Ah well." He shoved both of his hands in his pocket and leaned against the teacher's table.
"I don't know why you're so against me caring for Anne's well-being. You must understand. She does carry the Albright name somewhat."
"I already told you that she's mine."
Max made a "hmm" sound and quirked his pursed lips, looking troubled.
"She's not being forced. Actually, she's the one who offered to have this kind of arrangement."
"Oh? So Anne, was it your desire to be chased around by the whole student body, being pelted with fists and garbage and urine and God knows what else? Was it also your desire to be forcibly kissed, rather horribly I might add -Gabriel, you really need more practice in that department-by Mr. Morgan? And was it your desire to miss classes yesterday when you were perfectly, perfectly fine?"
Anne looked puzzled. "I wasn't fine. I needed rest."
"You like resting around wearing your school uniform? Or were you waiting for someone to give you permission to go to school?"
Anne gulped. How in the world...
"It was her desire to do every little command I make in exchange for a place to stay and a tidy sum for every month of service," Gabriel coolly answered.
"Our family could very well provide for those too!" Max exclaimed.
"But she intends to stay with me." A short silence reigned before Gabriel rolled his eyes. "I didn't go here for a chitchat excusing my abominable actions. You were saying something about a bet?"
Max chuckled. "Yes. To make things short and sweet, I want Little Miss Annie's services."
"My services?" Anne mumbled.
"Utmost devotion to every command I utter," Max clarified with a smirk. His blue eyes squared in on Anne's before slowly running his sight from the top of her head to the tip of her shoes. "Just one week, though. My attention span is quite poor." He turned to Annie and said, "Sorry. I hope you understand. But things might change if you're interesting enough."
Gabriel smirked. "What a funny way of laying the groundwork. Starting the discussion with the prize. And pray tell what would I get?"
"What would you want? I generally offer stocks, power in my family's company. Money. Women. But I have a feeling you don't have interest in those things."
"If I want you to eat your shit in front of everyone in this school, would that be acceptable?"
Max laughed out loud so suddenly that Anne's very tense muscles reacted with a jerk. He applauded Gabriel's suggestion and laughed so hard that tears leaked out of the corners of his eyes. When he was done, he pulled out a white handkerchief and dabbed at the tears.
"Brilliant. Of course you may, Mr. Morgan. However, I do not think it will be quite a fair exchange if I only get cute little Annie for a week."
Gabriel grinned. "True, true. I was merely trying to wake us all up. It is 7 in the morning. I just want your money, Max - can I call you Max?- and nothing more."
Max narrowed his eyes. "Well, I totally did not see that coming."
"Quite a bad sign since we're playing poker?"
Max grinned. "How much money?"
"A hundred thousand?" Anne glowered at Gabriel. Yes, indeed. She felt like a whore.
"Make it half a million at least," Max frowned. "She's worth more than an escort."
Gabriel smirked. "If you say so. I don't really care. Do we play now?"
"You made a bet with Gabriel Morgan?" Sebastian chortled while pouring a cup of tea for Max.
"And to think he got to pull out that rabid dog at 7 in the morning," Clarita raised an eyebrow. "Why not during lunch, you ass?"
Max shrugged. "I was hoping that the girl wouldn't hear it. She'd be much easier to claim... You know, play the hero card-"
"Not the horny bastard which you so are," Clarita interrupted with a smirk.
"And so?" Sebastian grinned.
"Doesn't make any difference," he shrugged.
"Why the effort? The girl is not your type," Clarita insisted.
Max scoffed. "Dear cousin, you of all people should know that I don't have a type."
Clarita pretended to busy herself with the nearby bouquet of lilies to hide her disgust. The first time she met Max, they had not known their blood relation. He just knew that she was already matched to someone, and that made his blood boil to claim her. Max loved, more than anything, to steal those who already belong to another. Needless to say, she had almost fallen victim to his charms and almost ruined her life in the process.
Sebastian knew how Max's response affected his betrothed and immediately swerved the topic to less touchy ground.
"So just another conquest. All of us in this school are wracking our heads so we could figure out just how to get that Morgan bastard on our side and here you are."
Max raised his cup with a smirk. "And here I am. But I have a feeling that she's not just another conquest."
"You've had virgins before," Clarita scoffed. "You got bored within a day."
"Nah, it's not that. There's something about that girl. Did you find anything?"
Clarita and Sebastain shook their heads. Anne Meyers was indeed a mystery. Another grin played on Max's lips as he looked forward to getting acquainted with Anne.
Sebastian cleared his throat. "I'd just want to make it clear, Max. You're the only one going against Gabriel. We'll play our own cards in this game." Clarita walked towards Sebastian and allowed herself to rest in his arms.
Max nodded as he got up from his seat. "Sure, Seb. Thanks for the tea."
As if on cue, the bell rang to signal the end of classes.
"It's show time."
Anne fumed as she stared at the projector screen currently showing Nello playing with his dog Patrasche. She already knew the ending, and she knew that this movie's version twists it to have a happy one.
Disgusting.
In the slightly same way, Anne knew that she was in detention not because Shelby pretended to slip on her pencil case. Gabriel and Max thought it would be much better if she's locked up and secured away from their poker match.
"Just like a real prize," Gabriel smirked.
What would she do if Gabriel lost? That damn bastard knew nothing about playing cards. She knew because she memorized his file by heart.
Maximillian Albright. She should've figured that the blue-eyed asshole would become a complication.
Gabriel didn't even identify the terms of "loaning" her to Max. Anne scowled. Asshole!
She didn't expect him to care about her, but to give her away like a slave, like a whore! It made her blood boil even more.
If only he knew why I'm here. Why I'm sticking beside him.
Anne glared at Patrasche obediently following his master.
It was too difficult to plan since she does not have the complete picture yet. But she was sure of one thing.
Gabriel was going to lose. He's not in their league yet.
The door banged open, jolting awake those who were sleeping inside the room.
Anne sighed.